Found A Fifty completes third successive Fortria Chase victory
Found A Fifty wins the Fortria Chase at Navan for the third year running, giving Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy another Grade 2 success.
Found A Fifty completed a third successive victory in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan on Saturday, maintaining his strong record in the two-mile contest and providing Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy with another important early-season success.
The nine-year-old, sent off at 11-4, defeated stablemate Touch Me Not by a length and a half, with favourite Only By Night another length and a half back in third. Elliott therefore supplied the first two home in a race that had lost one of its principal attractions when Willie Mullins withdrew Majborough because of unsuitable ground.
Found A Fifty was winning the Fortria for the third consecutive year, matching a feat previously achieved by Big Zeb. His latest success was the eleventh of his career and took his prize-money earnings beyond half a million. He has repeatedly proved effective when returning from a break and again travelled and jumped with assurance before producing the stronger finish.
Kennedy described the gelding as a dependable performer for owners Noel and Valerie Moran and the Elliott stable. While acknowledging that Found A Fifty has sometimes fallen short at the highest level, the jockey emphasised the consistency that has made him such a valuable horse over several seasons.
Touch Me Not, ridden by Danny Gilligan, ensured a one-two for Elliott, while Gavin Cromwell's Only By Night, the 13-8 favourite, could manage only third. Blood Destiny and Solness finished fourth and fifth respectively. The withdrawal of Majborough altered the shape of the race, but Found A Fifty still had to account for a competitive group of established two-mile chasers.
Elliott and Kennedy had already combined to win the Grade 3 auction novice hurdle with Thinkitdontjinxit, who scored by six lengths. Kennedy dismounted after that race when the winner appeared briefly sore, although he subsequently expressed hope that the problem was minor. The horse's condition will require confirmation before any further plans are established.
The Fortria result underlined Elliott's productive afternoon at Navan and reinforced Found A Fifty's standing as one of the more reliable experienced chasers in the yard. His next assignment has not been confirmed, but Saturday's performance showed that he retains the ability to compete effectively in graded company.
By TP Editorial
Follow Thoroughbred People
Comments
Have your say. Please keep it civil and on the subject.
Loading comments…